MET Gala = Capitol from Hunger Games

Actually I already said all I wanted to say in a title. Or maybe not, because next to some of our celebs Capitol citizens form saga look classy.

Something what use to be The Event, even more important than Oscars. Where Haute Couture was at its best. Looks like its all in a past. What a shame.
They were exceptions of course. My personal favourite is Helen Mirren, but she is a class on her own.

 Colin Firth with his lovely wife looked stunning.

So did Ivanka Trump

But the rest? Since when showing 95% of your body in public is acceptable anywhere but on the beach? 

 Beyonce

Kim K

JLo didn't get any better.

Rihanna killed the Big Bird

And all the masses of ill advised celebs to follow.

Lenny's daughter looked OK, but Miley Cyrus by her own admission possibly got dressed when hungover.  

And the last but not least, Anna Wintour is losing her touch if her own daughter can upstage her soo much

Oh I almost forgot Chiara Ferragni form http://www.theblondesalad.com/ looked stunning. Well done blogger girl.

Plus-size? models

By accident stumbled across an interview with Laura Wells (you can watch it here) which was followed by a lengthy discussion with my Husband about fashion and models, and clothing sizes.
I was trying to remember when this obsession with super-skinny girls had started, and I have a problem to pin-point it. Because when I first started to look at fashion the top models were Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. Slim, I grant you that, but far cry from girls who look like they just survived a concentration camp. If you have any doubts google some historic pictures from the WWII. Resemblance is shocking. I think that it was late 90s, early 2000 when this worrying trend took hold. I know that the body image have been changing for at least 6 decades and some designers were quoted to be saying that they want walking coat hangers. I know as well that eating disorders have more to do with being control freek than just a body image per se. But as a mother of a girl I cannot welcome enough this new legislation regarding fashion industry passed by France. I just hope it will go further. I hope we will get back to showing real people in decent clothes, girls in average sizes like 14, 16 and stop calling them plus-sized. And it's not only because we have population which goes toward obesity. Marilyn Monroe would be classed as overweight now for goodness sake. Health is not only about BMI, it's about overall well being. Most of British Rugby team by the measures of BMI can be cast as obese. Because their weight to height ratio is very high due to muscle mass. But no one can argue against that they are fit and healthy.
So if majority of population is much larger than size 0, why do fashion industry force us to look at super-skinny models as a ideal beauty? Why Laura Wells and other so called plus-size models such an novelty. Why can't we see those groundbreaking designs on people who look like us? It would save a lot of anxiety when we go to shops and try to fit in them only to see that cellulite is spilling out and it looks gross.  Or maybe it's too difficult for them to apply their art to actual real people.
And what about people who are real plus-size (lets say above 20 as to that much you can get stuff on the high street), what they are left with? Nothing on the high street and absolute zilch from high end designers. Oh, ok I forgot about the Wallis, but that is expensive. 30-40 years ago they would be able to go to local seamstress and get clothes made to measure for relatively small money. Clothes that would actually fit and flatter them. Now they would have to win in lottery to be able to afford that. So going to any town centre in UK you can see lots of people who are obese in tracksuit bottoms and ill fitting tops putting their rolls on shame for all to see. Mainly because they don't have an alternative. There isn't affordable service for big people where they could be told how to dress better. And there is this vicious circle of people being fat, feeling low about themselves, not doing anything to change it because they are already down, so they eat some more comfort food and get even bigger. And then they look at glossy magazines and see it's hopeless, they will never achieve this look so why bother. Yesterday I seen a girl who was not much bigger than me, but she looked huge. I had to explain to my husband that if I put on this too tight t-shirt and tracksuits I would look twice the size I am. Image is a lot about how you carry  yourself, what you wear, do you have a clean hair. I have learned long ago, that even the biggest arse looks smaller in mediocre tailored skirt than in best trousers. Especially if you put a little heel on. I believe that most of the people wants to look good. They just need a chance. In good quality, affordable outfits they might just get enough energy to change their eating habits and slim down.
Fashion industry is not only guilty of fueling up eating disorders in young people by promoting unhealthy "beauty" ideal, is as well guilty of neglecting huge population of people who don't fit in their standard size minds. And we all would do well by remembering that everyone can get fat. Sometimes our bodies can go out of control (like when thyroid gives up) and we could balloon to size 26 in 2 months. Seen it first hand.

Shopping list for next weekend

We all look for our own, individual style. And I found that as I aged I am less and less interested in what is actually in fashion this or next season. I am looking for clothes that will fit me well and will be comfortable to wear. My shoes started to come from Clarks and clothes from M&S. Isn't that sign of ageing? And there is the whole style issue. I tend to choose things I can wear until they will fall apart in classic cut and colours, instead of latest  fluorescent shade of orange with green stripes ;-).  Don't get me wrong, my wardrobe is still full impulse buys that will never get out (at least not until I'll take them to charity shop), but I do try and coordinate my shopping with what is already there. And when I looked last, majority is in black, white, various shades of blue and gray, and occasional red. But still in a lookout for perfect pair of jeans, some summery dresses and shoes. Never enough shoes.

Next part of my shopping next weekend will be a bookcase for diningroom, new bed for my daughter and some bits and bobs for the house. Like new lamp shades. All from Ikea of course.

Do you like artistic jewellery?

I love it, I love to have pieces no one else will. But I love quality and low price as well and it's not easy to find something truly unique for the right price.We have now more options then ever: Etsy, Ebay, small boutiques, being bilingual I am using Allegro and other Polish websites, but still if you want something nice for reasonable price it requires some effort. Recently I was lucky to find amazing pieces. They are some of the artists only shopping websites, ArsNeo for example, but have a feeling it would be cheaper to contact the Artists themselves.

Here are some pictures of beautiful stuff I found recently:

All of them are made by an artist http://arsneo.pl/tworcy/dorota-nitza.html , and I believe some of them will find their home with me soon :-)
Here are some of the pieces I already bought from Allegro (which is Polish version of Ebay)

 I love Amber, That every piece of it is different and unique. And apparently it has healing properties as well. Win win.
But if you like unique pieces and are on tight budget the find your local Art school, college or university, they often are doing sales  of students works for various charities, where you can buy one-off items for literally pennies. Like this one, got on sale at Uni, when Art Faculty was doing fundraising.

My Pin board March

T-shirts and skirt http://en.dawanda.com/
Dresses http://www.joules.com/
Bracelets and Bangles http://www.lexandcogifts.com/
Pouch bag http://www.luluguinness.com/purses/all-purses/london-by-night-zip-pouch

On the matter of fashion ;-)

There are soooo many blogs about fashion out there. It's unbelievable. We live in world obsessed with what to wear.
Yet so many of us dress like we wouldn't have mirrors at home.
Of course we all make mistakes, but we should learn from them and don't do them again!
I know  that major aspiration of the young girls (me oldie of 35) is to look and dress like the celebrities. Guess what! you don't and you won't. Unless you have very rich parents with connections in show biz world, who can support this (then you can be celebrity yourself), your chances to look like Kate Moss, are slimmer than her legs. And trying to mimic her style is going to be a failure when you are (like me and most female population of UK) size 16. It is not going to happen. But in trying to dress like her you are doing massive disservice to yourself and fellow human beings who have to look at you when passing in public places.
I know, really do, how hard it can be to find something that fits your figure, is trendy and have a good price. I completely understand that a lot of what can be found on the high street is very tempting and designed for malnourished teens. But there should be some law banning few things. Like flesh colour leggings  and crop tops with muffin hanging out for example. And do you have any idea what sheep skin style shoes do to the way you look? Especially if you have couple pounds too many.I know all the arguments of those who love them, I get it. The comfort thing. But please can you keep your comfort private. At home. Unless you are the surfer on the Cornish beach (should be Australia but Cornwall can be forgiven too).
We all watched Trinny and Susanah, and Gok. Why don't we think a bit about what to wear? I know that shopping is cheaper than therapy, but buying something to boost your mood is one thing, wearing something you shouldn't buy in the first place is something else.
Clothing should project your personality, should go with your life style, should make you look better and feel great. If you have problem to get there, get the stylist. If stylist is beyond your reach find a good friend to shop with. Good friend is the one who is not afraid to say "in this flowery skirt your arse looks like whole flipping meadow". And crucially- listen to them.
It really doesn't matter whenever you are getting dressed in Primark, Charity Shop or by Haute Couture Designer. Be critical. That something has expensive label does not mean it will suit you. Even when labels says it is your size, it doesn't have to fit. We all heard "less is more" and "stick to the classics, so you can mix and match everything in your wardrobe", majority will agree that it doesn't work. We buy stuff because it looks nice on our friend, we seen it on TV, it's dead cheap, on sale and we always wanted it, so many reasons as many shoppers.
Looks like I'll be a bore in that respect, just in time for another cull of my wardrobe will promise myself only to buy thing that I am going to wear. This time for sure.

PS when you do occasional cull of your clothes, swap them with friends (guaranteed good time with them, just remember to get some wine), give to charity (guaranteed mood boost by doing something good for others), sell on eBay or pack in bags and take to place that buys them per weight (benefits your purse and give you start for new shopping).

Why are we blogging and other things

 So why are we? for the same reason we are blaging :-P
or seriously, a lot of people take on fashion/beauty/lifestyle blogging because they read others blogs and think "I want to do that too, I want to get free stuff/go to fashion events/become celebrity too", as a result we have lots of good fashion/beauty/lifestyle blogs and even more not so good. The general idea behind the blog is that this stuff is going to be read. And as in any form of journalism we should respect  our readers. That is the reason mine will be constant work in progress, sometimes with longer breaks between posts as it will take some time to get them right. To make it the way I want and you might enjoy.
I do too read other's blogs, I really enjoy  that. When I have moment  break from running like headless chicken I love to read blogs (blogs, books,magazines, news- anything really, must be addicted to written word) and it makes lovely change from scientific journals- trust me on that.
My very favourite one is http://hannahgale.co.uk/ - she is funny and entertaining with amazing amount of common sense for someone her age :P. 
Second one I enjoy is completely different it is http://www.fashionfoiegras.com/
Another one is http://macademiangirl.com/   pure colour! Well worth a look especially if you miss spring and sunshine.
Where Hannah is Primark, Emily form FFG is High End Design. And where am I? Somewhere in between them. I still buy on High Street but prefer artisans and hand made stuff, things that are one of.
 Like this bag.

What is you wardrobe wish list for spring/summer?

Having spent last hour or so looking at trends for SS15  I am starting to get depressed. OK maybe depressed is an exaggeration, but still, looking at lovely pictures from fashion shows makes me a bit uncomfortable. We (modern women) were brought up with a view that everyone above size 14 is grossly obese. Size 14 is suspect anyway. Unfortunately coming from the family with genetically wide hips size 14 was the smallest I could fit in from puberty onwards. Even when my weight was 8 stone my hips were 44 inches(waist was 27 inch, nightmare when  try to find trousers that fit properly). Well in a past. Now, after a pregnancy and several dull and boring dead end jobs where I snacked to keep awake I am size 16, and no amount of dieting can shift it. (It is true that metabolism slows down as we age) Then I look at what is going to be in fashion couple months ahead and I cringe. Because big floral patterns don't look good on me, because block colours make me look size 20 and only monochrome can be comfortable but a bit boring. Then there is question about what type of clothing will I choose. Thank goodness I can choose from quite a few options, as ultra mini is definitely out of picture. Then there is a daily struggle between looking fairly good and being comfortable. If being comfortable would won, then it would be leggings and oversized T all the time. If looking good attempt wins there are tailored trousers and nice dresses, but summer is still daunting prospect. Bare legs. Linen trousers that show cellulite. Flimsy dresses which can be see through. It is scary. And there is this whole new issue of entering mutton dressed as lamb area. Whole fashion is directed at very young audience, so when you are over 30 there is very little choice. Either stick to business woman, or artist, or just give up on style. Awful time when one gets too old for New Look but still too young for twin cardigan with pearls.
So because my wardrobe is pretty much full, my wish list for spring/summer is short.

Some nice khaki dress like this one from Jason Wu

On the same note suede trench form Loewe is a dream.

This Sonia Rykiel (or something similar form high street as you can never have enough of striped tops)

 And silk, lots of silk Haider Ackerman

 All of the above can be bought from Net-a-porter.com, but high street have very similar pieces.